I'm Russian.

Yes.

Emotional for me [is] everything.

If I play or somebody plays or orchestra plays and you can cry it means I got you.

Music, it gives you opportunity for express yourself.

And it's passion.

It's make me feel cry, make me feel laugh and actually still for right now when I feel so depressed sometimes, you have, you know, it's in life we have ups and downs, and when I feel so down and just...I need piano.

Piano is basic.

If you can play piano and learn music on the piano you can after take any instrument.

I never have a chance teaching little kids.

I always teach some mid level, high level, professional level.

But here I am so excited because I start teaching little, little ones who is five, six years old and I have lots of fun.

For me it's very hard to teach them how to play sadness.

It's nothing to do with play sadness.

How you bring the sadness.

This is what's important.

Actually it was a long time ago.

That time it's 20 years ago it was.

And I was working for Alaska Dance Theater, it's ballet academy.

And I was thinking for one year.

Okay just one year.

But no way, I was in love with Alaska.

I was in love with Alaska, with Russian community, with people.

It's very nice Russian community here.

We speaking lots of Russian.

We have Russian parties.

We have Russian community when we can just ask somebody for help and we help each other.

We have amazing beautiful churches, Russian Orthodox churches because I'm orthodox.

And we still can keep our culture, our language.

A few times I broke my wrists, and one time I broke my finger here because I always was on the high heels.

I'm Russian, I'm little, yes.

And what helped me, I didn't never use physical therapy because my physical therapy was what?

Scales.

Music make me relax.

I grew up with classical stuff.

It was lots of classical music behind my shoulders.

And my grandpa give me reason for play piano.

(Can you find me here in this picture?)

First row!

See you still can recognize your grandma, babushka da!

Wow.

You were taller!

I am!

Because I was probably skinnier!

I have no clue!

And long dress.

Tell us little bit why you here, by yourself.

Well I'm here to go fishing.

I catch a lot of fish for my family.

You know, stock up the freezer, make babushka happy.

Yes.

Everytime I come for the summer.

Alaska is very unique state.

With white nights in summer time, with long darkness in winter time.

But hospitality here.

Alaska is my homeland right now, I love it.

I love it.